With one of their most effective court warriors and team leaders on the sideline with a wounded knee, the Hot Springs Savage Heat girls still soldiered on.

In spite of losing senior Sage Jackson to an injury during Thursday’s game with the Bulldogs in Mission, which the Heat won 54-50, Hot Springs went on to defeat Valley Christian 56-15 in Hot Springs Friday.

Still 1-0 in District 14C play and now an impressive 7-0 overall, the Heat have a conference weekend on tap, hosting Plains Friday and traveling to Noxon Saturday.

Coach Richard Jackson doesn’t know if and when his daughter and player Sage will be able to return to action. She was scheduled for an MRI earlier this week to determine the extent of the injury.

“These kind of things really don’t seem fair,” he said. “She’s not only one of our best players she is also a team captain playing in her senior year. Hopefully we will get good news from the doctor and go from there.”

The game in Mission was a physical affair that sometimes edged towards getting out of control, Jackson said. “It was good to get out of there with a win, they really took it to us at home last year,” he said. “We prepared better for them this time and were able win in a hostile environment – I give the girls all the credit for getting it done.”

Nominated for western Montana player of the week honors based on her outstanding performances last week, sophomore shooting star Katelyn Christensen scored 25 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and grabbed three steals to lead Hot Springs.

McKennzie Cannon added seven points and corralled a team-high 13 rebounds, Sydney Jackson scored six points and passed out five assists, Sage Jackson added five points (the first five of the game her father said), Lily Winn also scored five points, Brianna Gray four and Lizzy Fisher two.

Irene Bravo added six rebounds and two steals to the Heat’s winning effort in Mission.

Karolyna Buck scored 11 points to pace Mission, Olivia Garland added 10 and Azia Humphrey nine.

Friday’s game with Valley Christian was a lot less tense as the Heat moved to the easy win.

Moved into more of a guard position due to Sage Jackson’s injury, Christensen scored 19 points, secured seven rebounds and passed out five assists. Bravo added 11 points including three 3-pointers and Winn pulled down nine rebounds.

Other scoring from the game was not available.